Door latch and striker construction



June 6, 1939.

S BRANTINGSON DODR LATCH AND STRIKER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 21, 1958 Mmw/ INVENTOR M ATTO EY Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR- LAT'CH AND"STRIKER. CONSTRUCTION tion of New York Application September 21, 1938, Serial No. 230,947

17 Claims.

This invention relates to keeper and latch construction.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, durable, efficient and reliable keeper and latch construction. Another object is to provide a construction of the abovementioned character which will be well adapted to stand up under the varying and frequently severe conditions of use met with, for example,

in keeper and latch structures for heavy doors, such as refrigerator doors. Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned character that will be tamper-proof in a simple, inexpensive and thoroughly dependable way, and

capable of embodiment in such form that, where a lockable latch bolt is employed and the latter is locked, access or door-opening may be dependably precluded in so far as tampering or multilating or otherwise interfering with the keeper is concerned. Another object is to provide a strong, simple and efficiently-acting construction of the above-mentioned type in which the blows on the keeper structure caused by slamming of the door and impact of the latch bolt on the keeper structure may be effectively taken up, re-

sisted or dissipated.

Another object is to provide a keeper structure that will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, quick to install and easy and quick to set or adjust to the particular latch bolt structure and the possible variations in offset between door and frame planes. Another object is to provide a keeper structure that will be neat in appearance and compact, yet strong and dependable in action. Another object is to provide a keeper structure in which rotatable or roller means may be efficiently employed and in a manner to insure strength and rigidity. Another object is to providea keeper structure with inexpensive, simple and strong mounting means for rotatable or roller means to coact with the latch bolt. Another object is to provide a keeper of the roller type that will be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and capable of quick setting or adjustment in practical use.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown several possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure l is a plan view of a keeper and latch construction;

Figure 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, 5 as seen along the line 22 of Figure 1, showing on a larger scale certain structural features of the keeper and one form of latch construction that may be employed with it;

Figure 3 is a sectional view as seen along the 10 line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective or isometric view of part of the keeper structure; and

Figure 5 is a front elevation as seen from the bottom in Figure l, on a larger scale, showing 15 another form of latch construction and indicating certain coactions that take place between it and the keeper structure.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw- 20 mg.

Referring to the drawing and first toFigures 1 and 2, I have shown at 10 a door or like closure member, illustratively a refrigerator door, suitably hung or mounted with relation to a frame 25 H, the latter carrying a keeper structure generally indicated by the reference character I2 with which coacts a latch construction generally indicated by the reference character I3. As shown in Figure 2, the faces or planes of the 30 door I5 and frame II, when the door is in closed position, may be coincident, but frequently there is met with in practice an oifset between these planes, that offset varying according to various factors and circumstances. 35

The latch structure may comprise a casing l4 having a suitable base or flange l5 by which it may be secured to the door, as by screws or bolts H5, and its front wall I! is suitably apertured or channeled, as'at It, to provide a guide- 40 way for a preferably non-circular latch bolt l9 and whose rear portion or wall 20 is apertured or channeled as at 2i to provide a guideway for a rod-like extension 22 of the bolt and to furnish an abutment for one end of a spring, such as a coiled spring 23 that surrounds the extension 22 and whose left-hand end abuts against the square or rectangular bolt l9. The portion 20 of the casing preferably has a hole or aperture 24 extending transversely therethrough to intersect the guideway or channel 2| so that, when the latch bolt is in projected position, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, a shank of a padlock (not shown) may be put through the hole 24 and thus 55 dle 21 entered into the casing [4 for engagement in the recess 25 of the bolt l9. Any suitable means may be used to limit the range of sliding movement of the latch bolt, preferably by appropriately shaped inner walls 3|, 32 of the aperture 3|).

The latch structure is preferably mounted on the door I!) with its front face I! in alinement, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, with the side edge ||l of the door It].

.The keeper structure l2 preferably comprises a suitable base portion 33 adapted to rest against the face of the wall or frame II to which it is to be secured and is provided with any suitable means for securing it to the latter. Thus, it may .have a lateral flange 34 (Figures 1, 2 and5) suitably apertured to receive securing bolts or screws 35, and it may have a threaded hole 36 open at its under face to receive a clamping screw 31 or the like that extends through a suitable hole in the wall H for clamping the latter between its head and the base portion 33.

Upstanding from the base portion 33 and preferably integrally formed therewith is an upright support 33 of preferably substantial cross-sectional dimensions and provided with a vertically extending slot 39 of appropriate extent. The support 38 preferably is shaped to present a front face 38 and a rear face 38*, preferably parallel to each other, and the latter may be narrower than the former, both being substantially bisected by the vertical slot 39. Because of this preferred difference in Width of these faces, the

' support 38 may be given a tapered off or'beveled external shape as indicated in Figuresgl, 3 and 5.

Along the vertical edge portions of the face 38, the support 38 has extended forwardly, that is toward the door, and hence preferably formed integrally therewith, vertical ribs or wall-like parts 40 and 4|, the planes of their vertical edge faces preferably coinciding with the plane of the front face of the base portion 33, as is better shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5.

Preferably, also, the upper ends of the parts 40, 4| are joined together, as by a cross-rib or wall 42 WhOSefl'Ol'lt edge preferably falls in the plane of the front faces of the parts 40, 4| and 33 (see Figured).

The keeper structure thus far described will be seen to be of a configuration that makes it possible to manufacture it rapidly and inexpensively. For example, it may be and preferably is in the form of a casting of suitable metal or alloy, and its shape entails no difficulty in casting. It may also be cast in such a way as to requirelittle or no machining, excepting perhaps the threads of the hole 36 and then only where that form of mounting is' desired. Also, its shape will be seen to lend it strength; for example, the fiber wall parts 40, 4| in coaction with the cross-rib or wall 42' greatly strengthen and reinforce the support 38 and give. it and thebase portion 33 great rigidity. When mounted on the wall it is positioned, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, so that the edgefaces of the upstandingparts 40, 4| face toward the door and so that the common plane of these faces is parallel to the plane of the front face I! of the latch structure and so that the center lines of latch structure and keeper structure are coincident as shown in Figure 1, thus bringing the arc of swing of the cam-like face I9 of the latch bolt I9 intojuxtaposition to the space between the parts 43, 4|, the width of the latch bolt I!) being preferably slightly less than the width of that space.

turning down a piece of cylindrical stock whose diameteris the same as the enlargement 41 to provide the cylindrical bearing surfaces 44 and 44 one to each side of the central enlargement 41, for the rollers: 45 and 46, respectively.

Preferably, the end portions of the support 44 and the edge faces of the upstanding parts 40, 4| are suitably shaped so that the former may be given a dependable bearing against the latter and preferably also to insure that the axis of the shaft-like support 44 is at right angles to the parallel upstanding parts 40, 4| and hence is parallel to the under face of the base portion 33. For this purpose I prefer to notch or tooth the vertical edge faces of the parts 4|), 4| as at 48 (see Figure 4) and preferably also I provide similar notches or teeth at the ends of the support 44, the latter being preferably first provided with parallel flat end faces, as by milling, and then, or at the same time, milling similar notches or teeth therein-as at 49 (Figures 2, 3 and 5). V

Thereby, the vertical. spacing of the roller means from the plane of the wall may be varied or set to coact properly with the latch bolt [9 and to take into account the presence or absence of an offset between the planes of the door and wall I The collar-like enlargement 41 and the roller means, such as the rollers 45 and 46,.are preferably of an'aggregate axial dimension to be readily accommodated between the spaced parts 40, 4| with sufficient play to insure freedom of rotation'of the rollers.

In the enlargement 41 I'provide a hole extending preferably diametrically, making it preferably stepped or two-diametered, and the lesser diametered part 50 is threaded to receive the thread- V threaded fromthe part 44.

When tightened up, the screw 5| holds the roller shaft 44 securely in the bridging relation across the edge faces of the spaced parts 40, 4|, the teeth or notches above described coacting to hold the support 44 against tilting about the axis of the screw 5| and making it possible also to use a somewhat lighter or smaller screw. The screw head and the roller shaft 44, under the action of the screw, act as clamping heads between which the upstanding part 38 is securely clamped and gripped. Thus, the roller means, such as the rollers 45 and 46, are securely and dependably positioned to coact with the latch bolt I9, whose cam-like face I9 upon door-closing movement, contacts the rollers and by the latter, accompanied by their rotation, is easily, quickly, and with little resistance caused to be retracted against the action of spring 23, and as the nose of the bolt passes the center line, as viewed in Figures 2 and 5, of the rollers, the continued rotation of the latter makes it easier for the spring 23 to project the bolt and to achieve a wedging action of the door into tightly closed position. If the door is slammed shut, there is a substantial blow against the rollers but the above-described actions minimize its effect; also, such a blow is neatly precluded from effecting displacement of the roller shaft by the action of the intermeshing toothed parts the angles of the faces of which, as is better shown in Figures 2 and 5, being preferably such that the general direction of force exerted by the bolt when it strikes the rollers is substantially at right angles to the upper faces of the teeth 48 against which faces the lower faces of the teeth 49 of the roller support 44 rest. Thus, also, strain or over-stressing of the toothed parts is precluded.

As indicated in the form shown in Figure 5, the front face I! of the latch casing I4 is preferably extended upwardly, as at Il preferably to a point such that the distance A between the upper edge of the extended face and the lower front edge of the overhanging or cross-wall 42 is less than the diameter indicated at B of the roller means carried by the support 44. With this arrangement, should the latch bolt H! be looked, as by the padlock passed through the hole 24 (Figure 2) and should the keeper structure be tampered with, as by cutting off the head of the bolt 5|, so as to destroy the holding or securing action upon the roller shaft 44, the door could still not be opened for the roller structure remains trapped between the upright parts 4|], 4|, and between the locked latch bolt l9 and the cross-wall 42 coacting with the upwardly extended front face Il Disassembly of the rollers from the supporting shaft 44 cannot take place for the spacing between the front edges of the upstanding parts 40, 4| and the front face I! is less than the diameter of the rollers, while the enlargement 41 prevents the shaft 44 from being drawn axially out of the two rollers. The three parts therefore remain, and are maintained, assembled, in coaction with the parts 48, 4|. Attempt to move the rollers upwardly, as viewed in Figure 5, and out of the space between the parts 40, 4| is blocked by the narrowness of the throat or spacing A as compared to the diameter B of the rollers. Also, unthreading of the bolt 5| to remove it from the shaft 44 cannot take place due to its expanded end 5| while the latter cannot be undone or tampered with because it is virtually inaccessible, being hidden and contained well within the hole 53. Ample leeway, however, for loosening the bolt to change or adjust the setting of the support 44 along the parts 40, 4| is, of course, provided for.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a striker construction and a striker and latch construction in which the above objects, together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. The construction is strong and dependable, neat in appearance, compact, and of easy and efficient action in practical use. Moreover, it is well adapted to meet the widely varying conditions I of hard practical use.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A latch and striker construction comprising a striker structure having two spaced upstanding walls joined by an upper cross wall, said structure having means for securing it to a wall, door frame, or the like, in a position to present the open end of the space between said walls toward the door, roller means having a shaft-like support, said support engaging the edges of said upstanding walls and having a bearing portion for supporting said roller means, thereby to cause a portion of the latter to extend between said upstanding walls and to present the remaining portion thereof toward the door and the latch carried by the latter, means for securing said support in position against said wall edges to hold said roller means against movement relative to the latter, a latch bolt structure carried by the door and comprising a casing having an end wall presented toward said striker structure, said end Wall having an aperture through which extends a lockable spring-opposed latch bolt which has an appropriately shaped outer end for coaction with said roller means upon closing movement of the door to effect retraction of the bolt in order to by-pass said roller means and upon subsequent projection to be blocked by said roller means against movement in door-opening direction, the end wall of said latch casing being of sufficient height and closely enough spaced at its upper end to said cross wall of said keeper structure that the distance therebetween is less than the diameter of said roller means, whereby, upon said securing means ceasing to hold said shaft-like support, said roller means cannot be passed or moved out of said space and remains in bolt-locking position.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said securing means comprises screw-clamping means having an operable part accessible from the exterior of said keeper structure, whereby, even though said clamping means is tampered with to effect release of said roller means, unauthorized door-opening is precluded by the blocking action resulting from the coaction between said casing wall, said cross wall, and said roller means.

3. A keeper construction comprising a part having means whereby it may be secured to a wall, door frame, or the like, in upstanding relation to the plane of the latter, and having in that face that extends toward the door two spaced parts across which is bridged a shaft-like support supporting roller means intermediate of its ends so that a portion of the roller means extends into the space between said spaced parts and the remaining portion thereof is presented toward the door for coaction with a latch bolt carried by the latter, and means operating directly upon said shaft-like support for securing it against displacement out of its bridging position across said two spaced parts.

4. A keeper construction as claimed in claim 3 both said part and said shaft-like support having apertures for receiving said screw and one of said apertures being threaded.

5. A keeper construction as claimed in claim 3 in which said securing means comprises a screw, said part having a slot extending parallel to said spaced parts and through which said screw passes and along which said screw may be adjustably positioned, said shaftelike support having a threaded aperture therein for threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the screw.

6. A keeper construction as claimed inclaim 3 in which said shaft-like support has a substantially centrally positioned enlargement which is thereby presented to the space between said spaced parts, said roller means comprising at least two roller members, one on each side of said enlargement, said securing 'Ineans engaging said enlargement.

7. A keeper construction as claimed in claim 3 in which said shaft-like support has a substantially centrally positioned enlargement which is thereby presented to the space between said spaced parts, said roller means comprising at least two roller members, one on each side of said enlargement, said enlargement having threaded means, and said securing means comprising threaded means coacting between said first mentioned threaded means and said part.

8. A keeper construction as claimed in claim 3 in which said shaft-like support has a substantially centrally positioned enlargement which is thereby presented to the space between said spaced parts, said roller means comprising at least two roller members, one on each side of said enlargement, said enlargement having a threaded hole and said part having an aperture, said securing means comprising a headed screw extending through said aperture and threaded into said threaded hole, with means preventing said screw from being unthreaded from said hole.

9. A keeper construction comprising a part having means whereby it may be secured to a wall, door frame, or the like, in upstanding relation to the plane of the latter, and having in that face that extends toward the door two spaced parts across which is bridged a shaft-like support supporting roller means intermediate of its ends so that a portion of the roller means extends into the space between said spaced parts and the remaining portion thereof is presented toward the door for coaction with a latch bolt carried by the latter, said part carrying means operative to secure said shaft-like support in said bridging relation adjustably in a direction lengthwise of said spaced parts.

10. A keeper construction comprising a part having means whereby it may be secured to a wall, door frame, or the like, in upstanding relation to the plane of the latter, and having in that facethat extends toward the door two spaced parts across which is bridged a shaft-like support supporting roller means intermediate of its ends so that a portion of the roller means extends into the space between said spaced parts and the remaining portion thereof is presented toward the door for coaction with a latch bolt carried by the latter, said part having a plurality of notches extending lengthwise thereof and said shaft-like support having mgeans adapted to coact with said notches according to the selected position of said support lengthwise of said spaced parts, and means holding said sup-port secured to said part.

11. A keeper construction comprising two spaced parts having means whereby they may be secured to a wall, door frame, or the-like, in upstanding relation to the plane of the latter, and a roller structure for coaction with a latch bolt comprising a shaft-like support having an. enlargement intermediate of its ends and two roller means thereon, one on each side of said enlargement, the aggregate axial dimension of said two roller means and said enlargement being suiiiciently less than the spacing between said two spaced parts so as to receive said roller means therebetween, whereby said spaced parts hold said roller means from coming off of said shaft, and said enlargement, in coaction with said roller means and said spaced parts, prevents said shaft from being drawn axially out of said roller means, and means holding said shaft assembled to said spaced parts.

12. A construction as claimed in claim 11 in which said shaft is of sufficient length to have its end portions rest against the edges of said spaced parts and said holding means comprises means causing said spaced parts to be clamped between said shaft ends and itself.

13. A construction as claimed in claim ii in which said shaft'is of sufficient length to have its end portions rest against the edges of said spaced parts and saidholding means comp-rises screw means for securing said shaft ends thereto.

14. A construction as claimed in claim 11 in which said shaft is of sufficient length to have its end portions rest against the edges of said spaced parts and said holding means comprisesv screw means passing between said spaced parts and having threaded engagement with said shaft to clamp the ends of the latter against said spaced parts.

'15. A construction as claimed in claim 11 in which said shaft is of sufficient length to have its end portions rest against the edges of said spaced parts and said holding means comprises a screw passing between said two spaced parts, said shaft enlargement having a threaded hole thereinv and said screw being threaded through the latter, the end of said screw being provided with means whereby it cannot be removabiy unthreaded.

16. A keeper construction comprising two spaced parts having means whereby they may be secured to a wall, door frame, or the like, in upstanding relation to the plane of the latmr, and a roller structure for coaction with a latch bolt comprising a shaft-like support having an enlargement and rotatably supporting roller means, the aggregate axial dimension, of said roller means and said enlargement being such that they are accommodated between said spaced parts, the ends of said shaft resting against edge portions of said spaced parts, and means holding said shaft against said edge portions.

17. A keepe-rconstruction as claimed in claim 16 in which said edge portions are provided with notch-like seats into which end portions of said shaft are received to hold the shaft against displacement lengthwise of said edge portions.

SIGURD BRANTINGSON. 

